As I stood in high school in a small town in Myanmar, a big dream took hold of me – the dream of studying in the USA. Day and night, I pondered how I could make this dream a reality after completing high school. However, it seemed like an impossible feat due to my financial background. Born and raised in a non-wealthy family, my parents were unable to afford tuition fees for studies in the USA. Despite the financial challenges looming over me, I resolved to embark on my academic journey to the USA.
My first step was to learn English, as passing the English proficiency test was essential for admission. With limited resources, I acquired an English grammar book and a few speaking books. Unable to afford special classes or paid English courses, I resorted to self-teaching and relentless practice. It took over a year of rigorous study and preparation for the TOEFL exam.
The absence of electricity in my town posed another obstacle. I relied on a single candle for nighttime study sessions, which often proved challenging as the candle would sometimes melt due to the wind. During the day, I worked to pay for my rent, leaving little time for studying.
This was a time when resources were scarce – there were no YouTube English tutorials, no access to Google or the internet in my town. My only resources were an English grammar book, a speaking book, and a dictionary. Despite my efforts to memorize the entire speaking book and dictionary, much of it slipped my mind before the English exam. Without an English teacher to guide me, my pronunciation suffered. I often mispronounced words, such as “lady” and “ledy,” and frequently confused “kitchen” with “chicken.”
The struggle was real, and everything was self-taught. After more than a year of relentless effort, I finally passed my TOEFL exam. However, the next challenge loomed large – financing my tuition fees. This marks the end of Part 1 of my academic journey. Let me know if you’re interested in reading Parts 2 through 10, chronicling my journey from Myanmar to the USA.
